Luminescent ashtray and coaster



June 6, 1961 M. M. RosENFl-:LD 2,987,619

LUMINESCENT ASHTRAY AND COASTER Filed March 24, i958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

38 MORTON M. ROSENFELD Y @www ATTORNEY June 6, 1961 M. M. ROSENFELD 2,987,619

LUMINESCENT ASHTRAY AND COASTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 24, 1958 e INVENTOR.

MORTON M. ROSENFELD BYMHM ATTORNEY United States Patent C) 2,987,619 LUMINESCENT ASHTRAY AND COASTER Morton M. Rosenfeld, Mount Vernon, N.Y.

(271 Madison Ave., New York, N.Y.) Filed Mar. 24, 1958, Ser. No. 723,522 4 Claims. (Cl. 250-71) The present invention relates to a luminescent ashtray and coaster, and more particularly to a luminescent ashtray and coaster which may be readily found by the user in the dark.

The widespread use of television has led to the practice of viewers observing the television screen in substantially complete darkness, particularly during the nighttime. Thus, many viewers nd the presence of direct illumination in a room in which a television set is being viewed to be objectionable.

Moreover, many smokers enjoy smoking in bed in the dark. This practice has led to many res and resultant deaths when the smoker inadvertently rested his cigarette or cigar upon an inammable surface.

It has long proved desirable to provide simple means whereby a person may deposit a glass, such as a glass containing drinking liquid, close to him in a darkened room. In addition, it has long proved desirable to furnish an ashtray which the user can locate in the darkness. These needs, which have been long present, have been accentuated by the aforesaid practice of viewing television in virtually absolute darkness, and by the relatively prevalent habit of smoking in bed.

The invention has as an object the provision of a luminescent ashtray and coaster.

This invention has an another object the provision of an ashtray which may be readily located by the user in substantially absolute darkness.

This invention has as yet another object the provision of a coaster which may be readily located by` the user in absolute darkness.

This invention has as still a further object the provision of a coaster which cannot be readily capsized Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention there is shown in the drawings forms which are presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a luminescent ashtray and coaster of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the ashtray embodiment of FIGURE 1 viewed from above.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the ashtray embodiment of FIGURE l viewed from below.

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view running diagonally across the luminescent ashtray and coaster of FIGURE l taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 5 is a longtudinal sectional View of another embodiment of the luminescent ashtray and coaster of the present invention.

FIGURE 6 is a longitudinal sectional View of another embodiment of the luminescent ashtray and coaster of the present invention.

Referring initially to FIGURES l through 4 inclusive the luminescent ashtray and coaster shown therein is designated generally as 10.

The luminescent ashtray and coaster 10 comprises a generally rectangular body 12 having cigarette receiving notches 14 at each of its four corners. A wide variety of shapes of bodies may be used including circular bodies for the luminescent ashtray and coaster 10 of the present invention. Such cigarette receiving notches 14 are formed in the outer wall 16 of the body 12 and support lit cigarettes deposited there by the user, with the lit ends of "ice such cigarettes being disposed over the ash receiving well 18 of the body 12,

The tumbler-receiver 20 is disposed in the center portion of the ash receiving well 18 and rises upwardly from the floor thereof. Such tumbler-receiver 2t) comprises a raised member having a circular wall 22, and a raised floor 24. The positioning of a tumbler shown in phantom line and designated 26 in yFIGURE l is within the circular wall 22 of the tumbler-receiver 20.

As seen particularly in FIGURE 4 the body 12 including the outer wall 16, ash receiving well 18, and the tumbler-receiver 20 is preferably integrally formed. It is essential for the purposes of the present invention that such body 12 be formed of a diaphanous (by diaphanous is meant to include either a material that is transparent or translucent) fire-resisting material, such as glass.

A translucent luminescent coating 28 is deposited on the undersurface and sides of the body 12. Such lumi-v nescent coating is preferably a phosphorescent coating, namely a coating such as a paint, which glows or emits light after excitation due to exposure to light. While phosphorescent coatings are to be preferred, the present invention also comprehends the use of safe autoluminesl cent materials.

Since it is essential for the purposes of the present invention that the luminescent coating 28 be translucent, there should be provided a reector coating 3i) superposed upon the luminescent coating 28. The reflector coating 30 may comprise an opaque paint, opaque plastic sheet, or the like adhesively secured to the outer surface of the luminescent coating 28. Such reector coating 30 prevents the user from viewing directly through the luminescent ashtray and coaster 10, protects the luminescent coating 28, and reflects the luminescence emitted by the luminescent coating 28.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURES l through 4, the luminescent coating 28 disposed beneath the raised oor 24 of the tumbler-receiver 20 is broken into a series of concentric bullseye circles` When the luminescent ashtray and coaster 10 glows in the dark, it emits sutiicient light to enable the user to properly position his cigarettes or tumbler. In particular, the provision of the bullseye circles in the luminescent coating 28 facilitates the centering of the tumbler 26 within the tumbler-receiver 2l). Moreover, the tumbler-receiver 20 should be of suiiicient area to provide a clearance whereby a slight misalignment of the tumbler 26 will not cause the same to miss the raised oor 24 of the tumbler-receiver 20.

rI`he relative wide dimensions and low center of gravity of the luminescent ashtray and coaster lll prevents toppling thereof, and prevents the creeping of the luminescent ashtray and coaster lil away from the tumbler 26 when the tumbler 26 is deposited therein.

In the luminescent ashtray and coaster embodiment 10a shown in FIGURE 5, the luminescent coating 28a comprises a translucent luminescent adhesive layer. In place of the reector coating 30 there is provided a revHector 32, preferably' formed of highly polished aluminum or silver foil or sheet. Thus, the luminescent adhesive coating 28a which is sandwiched between the body 12a and the reliector 32 may function to provide both luminescence and adhesion between the reflector 32 and the body 12a.

In order to prevent slippage between the luminescent ashtray and coaster 10a of FIGURE 5 and its supporting surface, the luminescent ashtray and coaster 10a is pro vided with a felt pad 34 secured to its underside.

In place of the concentric bullseye circles beneath 'the tumbler-receiver 20 the luminescent ashtray and coaster t a l 2,987,619

a. is providedY with ,an opaque upper surface-onthe mating groove disposed about the raised oor 24h. The

circular wall 22b is preferably permanently secured to the body 12b by a thin layer of transparent adhesive.

A-sheet of luminescent paper 38 is adhesivelyY secured by adhesive 40 to the sides and .undersurface `of the body 12b. The luminescent paper 38 is opaque.

In all other respects the luminescentashtray andcoast-V er 10b ofi FIGURE 6 may resemble the luminescent. ashtray and coaster of FIGURES 1 through 4 inclusive.

The present invention may be embodied in other spe-r cific forms Without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specication as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

l. A luminescent ashtray and coaster including a diaphanous body having an ash receiving Awell Within an outer raised wall, an inner raised wall within said ash receiving Well dcining a tumbler receiving enclosure, a coating of luminescent material on a bottom surface of -sad body, an underwriting 4 l l, Y,

o-a' reflecting."rn'at'er'ialV .beneath said luminescent material, whereby said luminescent material may be seen from' a'position above -said body, and said inner raised wall defining said tumbler receiving enclosure being indicated by means providing reduced transmission of lightVV through said inner wall when viewed from a position above said body;

2. A luminescent ashtray :and coaster in accordance with claim 1 in which the means includesV a series of nonluminescent circles in the luminescentmaterial beneath said enclosurel 3. A luminescent ashtray and coaster in accordance with claim 1 in which the' means includes an opaque marking on .the top surface of vsaid inner raised wall.

4. A luminescent ashtray and coaster in accordance with claim l in which the means includes the material of the inner raised wall which s formed of an opaque material.

References Cited in thele .of this patentl UNITED STATES PATIENTSI D. 118,158 Keuls Dec. 19', -1939 D'. 169,117 Babbitt Mar. 3l, 1953 1,484,742 Sherwin 1-Teb. 26, 1924 2,032,540 La Hodny et al. Mar. 3, 1936 2,188,264 Fordyce Jan, 23, 1940 2,461,549 Jacobs Feb. 15, 1949 2,554,136 Brown May 22, 1951 2,695,114 Wells Nov. 23, 1954 2,885,561 Lange May 5,` 1959 

